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Line 1: − + − The [[Nazi]]s heavily used cremation.<ref>JEAN PICTET, COMMENTARY, GENEVA CONVENTION I, GWS, at 178-79 (1952).</ref> The 1949 Geneva Convention, an international treaty governing wartime, prohibits cremation: "Bodies shall not be cremated except for imperative reasons of hygiene or for motives based on the religion of the deceased."<ref>Article 17, second paragraph.</ref> − + + + + +
another cite, and sharpened introduction
'''Cremation''' is the [[burning]] to ashes of a person's body after death, rather than burying the body or otherwise honoring it. Often the ashes of a cremated corpse are then dispersed over water or land.
'''Cremation''' is the [[burning]] to ashes of a person's body after death, rather than burying the body or otherwise honoring it. Often the ashes of a cremated corpse are then dispersed over water or land.
Cremation has ancient [[pagan]] origins, and implicitly denies the resurrection of the body. In Western cultures, cremation is most favored by [[atheists]]. It has always been prohibited by [[Judaism]] and [[Islam]] and is still prohibited by the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]. The [[Roman Catholic Church]] prohibited cremation until 1963, which it changed its policy to merely disfavoring cremation. Until 1997, the Roman Catholic Church did not allow cremation until after the funeral mass, but then it relaxed that rule if a local bishop approves of cremation prior to the funeral mass, and Catholic cremations have greatly increased partly for [[economic]] reasons.
Cremation has ancient [[pagan]] origins, and implicitly denies the resurrection of the body. In Western cultures, cremation is most favored by [[atheists]]. It has always been prohibited by [[Judaism]] and [[Islam]] and is still prohibited by the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]. The [[Roman Catholic Church]] prohibited cremation until 1963, which it changed its policy to merely disfavoring cremation. Until 1997, the [[Catholic Church]] did not allow cremation until after the funeral mass, but now it allows cremation prior to the funeral mass if a local bishop approves, and Catholic cremations have greatly increased partly for [[economic]] reasons.
In 2006 in the [[United States]], about one third of the 2.3 million persons who died were cremated. This fraction is expected to increase further.<ref>http://www.thetimesnews.com/news/one_8366___article.html/simpson_caskets.html</ref> Cremation rates are much higher in other countries: 75% in [[Japan]] and 70% in [[England]].
Every single reference in the [[Bible]] to the disposition of the bodies of the deceased disfavors cremation.<ref>http://www.epm.org/articles/cremation.html</ref>
The [[Nazi]]s heavily used cremation.<ref>JEAN PICTET, COMMENTARY, GENEVA CONVENTION I, GWS, at 178-79 (1952).</ref> The 1949 Geneva Convention, an international treaty, prohibits cremation in war: "Bodies shall not be cremated except for imperative reasons of hygiene or for motives based on the religion of the deceased."<ref>Article 17, second paragraph.</ref>
In 2006 in the [[United States]], about one third of the 2.3 million persons who died were cremated, and this percentage is increasing.<ref>http://www.thetimesnews.com/news/one_8366___article.html/simpson_caskets.html</ref> Cremation rates are much higher in other countries: 75% in [[Japan]] and 70% in [[England]].
== Christian Opposition to Cremation ==
== Christian Opposition to Cremation ==